The South West – Georgie and Rod's Grand Adventure

We stayed in a hotel in Zeehan in which our room was graced with the world’s noisiest AC/heater. It was like a jet liner roaring through the room, so we were forced to turn it off and then bundle up, suffocatingly, under heavy blankets in an effort to endure the 4 degree temperatures.

After surviving the night, we investigated the Zeehan Historical Museum, which had a fabulous mineral collection that we could have spent hours looking at if it wasn’t for the incredibly low temperatures throughout the buildings. We shivered our way through so many amazing crystals and beautiful rocks before escaping to a nearby café to dose up on life extending and bone warming coffees.

Our travels then took us south through coastal heathlands to Strahan, where we were denied a walk to the reputedly gorgeous Hogarth Waterfall by the local council because a tree had fallen over the track. Rod was willing to ignore the plurry sign and go anyway, but Georgie insisted on being far too law-abiding. That was frustrating for Rod! So instead we investigated the aptly named Ocean Beach (!!!) whilst enduring the freezing Antarctic wind. We have discovered that there is nothing except the open ocean between there and Patagonia in South America. We thoroughly enjoyed the incredibly multicoloured stones that littered the sand in great profusion – Georgie wanted to collect pocketfuls to bring home, but we thought better of it, given our limited luggage allowance for our plane journey home. It had truly been a day of geological wonders.

Then as dark was closing in, we rugged up and went to see an open air theatre production titled ‘The Ship That Never Was’. What a hoot! We laughed and laughed! If you are ever in Strahan, for goodness’ sake don’t miss it! It’s brilliant! We hadn’t been to a stage performance since six months before in Cornwall, UK. But this one, they said, is the longest running stage show in Australia, ‘cos it’s such a beauty!

It was an early start the next day to hop on a boat to cruise Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River. We were lucky enough to strike one of the few days in a year when it was not blowing a gale and drizzling rain. Most fortuitous indeed! We thoroughly enjoyed our day, checking out that extensive harbour, then slowly chugging up the river in a spacious and comfortable catamaran that was not crowded at all. The views were lovely, the water was calm, and the short stroll along a level boardwalk through the gorgeous forest was enhanced by a guide who told us a lot about many of the trees along the way. ‘Twas a good day out that included a reasonable lunch.

After that we returned to the Hogarth Waterfall and, after girding our loins, bravely followed the trail despite the warning signs that claimed dangerous conditions ahead. We did this because a local woman we’d met the night before advised us to ignore the bloody signs. The incredible danger we had to be wary of was a couple of fallen trees that we were required to bend over a bit to pass beneath! Oh my goodness gracious me! It’s a wonder we survived! We can be very brave and adventurous sometimes (and a little bit naughty).

Staying that night in Queenstown, we had a reasonable feed at the rather stately Empire Hotel, the best part of which was the fabulous and elaborate staircase, which had previously been graced by the legendary Dame Nellie Melba! Rod just had to lay his hands on the stairs to feel the history.

The next day we followed a road south into the expansive World Heritage of the South West region which included some fabulous views of the surrounding mountains, as well as some beautiful deep dark and mossy rainforests. We met a couple of young Melbourne boys there who seemed to be a bit lost, so for safety they followed us down a narrow winding trail into a really remote corner of forest. Everything was damp and mossy, with tall trees and steep valleys. We spent the whole day exploring and wandering about, before returning to Queenstown for another night.

Lovely stones on Ocean Beach